Stepladder



`May 13, 1924. 1,494,107

v A. N.FAU| KNER STEPLA'DDER Filed Nov. 23, 1921 iberi LFauZ/ner Fatented liz/lay 13, 1924.

reno? ALBERT N. FAULKNER, OF NE YORK, N. Y.

srnrnannnn.

Application filed November 23, 1921. Serial No. 517,235.

Be it lrnown that l, ALBERT N. FAULKNEB., a citizen ot Canada, and a resident of the borough oi Manhattan, city, county, and State o'l" New York, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Stepladders, ot which the following is a speciiication.

The present invention relates to step ladders, particularly of the Yfolding or collapsible type.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved brace adapted to be connected to the collapsible sections tor permitting the quick and easy closing of the ladder and for permitting the quick and easy opening oi3 the ladder; in the latter position the brace rod being locked from accidentally closing or collapsing.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved attaching mea-ns for the ends of the brace rods i'or pivotally connecting the brace rods to the sides of the ladder and the sides ot the hinge support, and to prevent the cutting of the parts of the ladder incident to lateral twisting` and turning of the ends o'l the braces against the ladder.

`With the foregoingand other objects in view, the invention will be more Jully described hereinaiter, and will be more par ticularly pointed out in the claim appended hereto. f

1n the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a ladder of conventional form showing improvements according to the present invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal enlarged section taken through the same substantiallyV on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; n

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a 'ladder brace constructed according to the present invention and shown in a partly collapsed position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken through the joint of the brace;

Fig. 5 is a top edge view oi the ladder brace, showing a slightly modiiied form of combined guard and stop;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken through the saine on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view in top plan of a 'brace attaching member and its washer in assembled position;

' Fig. 8 is an 'inner side elevation of the washer; and v F ig. 9 is a plan View of the pivot bolt employed.

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates the runner or side portion of a ladder ot' any approved type which is provided on its upper end with a platform 11 or the like to which is pivotally connected the upper end oft a prop or hinge section 12. The prop 12 adapted to be swung toward and from the ladder 10 and ior the purpose of holding the prop 12 in extended position, such as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the ladder is provided on each side with a brace.

According 'to the present invention each brace is composed of a pair of bars 13 and 14 hingedly connected in overlappingr relation upon a pivot pin 15, and the said connected ends of the bars 13 and 14 are housed and protected within" a clip or U-shaped casing 16. This casing 16 comprises a hand grip and the saine is preferably fitted to turn with one ot the rod sections, such l' as the section 13 and for this purpose the section 13 is elongated beyond the pivot pin 15 to engage, as shown in F ig. 4, throughout substan'tially the entire length of the casing 16 against the upper side thereof. The `other rod 14 is rounded at its inner end concentric to the pivot 15 andis adapted to swing upon such pivot into extended and collapsed positions as required in the opening andclosing of the ladder. The upper wall or top ot the casing 16 provides a stop against which the arm 14 bears when the brace 'is extended to prevent the brace from swinging downwardly out of line with the arms 13 and14.

The casing 16 is U-shaped so as to provide an opening through the bottom thereof through which the arm 14 may swing as the casing 16 and arms are swung upwardly in collapsing the ladder.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a slight modification is shown wherein the casing 17 is in the form of a hand grip adapted to lit the hand and to be grasped thereby for directing the brace upwardly in the act of collapsing it. This hand grip or casing 17 is provided in its under side with a slot 18 through which the rod or bar 14 may swing.

To facilitate the attaching of the ends of the brace bars 13 `and 14 to the sections 10 and 12 o'l the ladder, pivot bolts 19 are provided, the same having heads 20 and annular shoulders or bearing portions 21 immediately adjacent the heads and of a width equal substantially to the thickness of the adjacent bar 13 or 14. The bar is apertured to snugly receive therein the bearing portion 21 and is adapted to turn thereon. The inner end of the bearing portion 21 terminates in an inwardly facing shoulder 22 which is adapted to bear against the adjacent side portion of the ladder and which is adapted to prevent undue binding of the head 2O against the brace. The bolt 19 passes through a suitably formed aperture in the adjacent portion of the ladder and is held in fixed relation therein by a nut 23 or the like, as shown in Fig. 2.

A washer plate 24 of disc form is placed against the side of the ladder about the bolt 19, the washer having an opening 25 formed centrally therethrough for receiving the bolt. The washer has at spaced points spurs or prongs 26 adapted to be driven into the side of the ladder for anchoring the plate 24 from turning and to also hold the plate against canting on the bolt and biting or digging into the wood of which the ladder may be constructed. The bars or sections A13 and 14 of the brace in turning about the bolts 19 bear against the plates 24 and the inner sides of the heads 2O so that there is metallic bearing contact at all points during the turning of the ends of the brace. This construction is adapted to maintain the parts in true relation and to prevent undue wear or strain upon the wooden sections of the ladder.

Fig. 1 shows in full lines the ladder extended for use and shows the brace forced down into horizontal position. In this position the casing or stop 16 holds the bars 13 and 14 from swinging downwardly to a further extent. When it is desired to collapse the ladder it is only necessary to grasp the housing or casing 16 and draw it up into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. In such position the pivot pin 15 is moved out of line with the bolts 19 at the ends of the brace and consequently the seetion 12 of the ladder may be easily swung in toward the section 10 and the brace members 13 and 14 completely collapsed.

ldhen the casing or housing 16 is swung upwardly, the bar 14 is permitted to swing down through the bottom or slotted portion of the housing and the other rod or section 13 remains substantially rigid as regards the housing to prevent pivoting of the housing upon the section 13. There is, therefore, little or no likelihood of the fingers or lhand being pinched or caught between the swinging n'ieinbers as the brace is raised and collapsed. In the form shown in Figs. 5 and (i the housing or casing 17 is given the shape of a hand grip to facilitate the directing of the brace when it is desired to adjust it.

I have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodiment of my invention, but it is obvious that changes may be made therein within the spirit and scope thereof as defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is In combination with a ladder and a brace therefor, a pivot bolt adapted to movably, secure the brace to the side of the ladder, said bolt having a head on its outer end and an enlarged bearing shoulder extending iii-. wardly from said head and adapted to receive the end of said brace thereon, and a washer plate fitting upon said bolt and bearing against the inner end of said bearing shoulder for confining the end of said brace upon said bearing shoulder, said washer plate having inwardly extending prongs adapted to be embedded in the side of the ladder for holding the plate from turning and canting incident to the pivoting and straining of said brace.l i

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereunder.

ALBERT N. FAULKNER. IWitnesses FRED N. FAULKNER, J. J. VAOHA. 

